cancer

No matter what happens with country music in the mainstream, there will always be musicians that will pick up the cause of preserving country’s traditional modes and make sure they never die. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s, it was the unlikely champion of punk musicians that rose to the occasion and started releasing old-school country albums and launching country side projects.

Jim Ed Brown, member of the influential early country family band The Browns, esteemed solo artist, and long-time devoted member of the Grand Ole Opry, has been diagnosed with lung Cancer. Brown made the announcement today after he was forced to cancel a few shows recently. “I am forever grateful for the love, support, and prayers during this time,” Jim Ed said in a statement.

Of all the country music greats, Merle’s story might be the most symbolic of the American experience: from growing up in California as the son of Okie parents during The Depression, to spending time in prison, to becoming a rags to riches story. When it comes to influencing country music itself, few this side of Hank Williams can say they’ve left a bigger footprint.

Country music legend Ray Price is finally being released from the hospital after being admitted on May 9th for severe dehydration. Ray was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November of 2012 and began receiving radiation treatment. By February of 2013, the cancer was in remission and Ray was back performing, but a medication Ray was taking for Post Radiation Syndrome resulted in the loss of too many fluids.

Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Louvin is in the hospital, and the prognosis is not good. According to his son Charlie Louvin Jr., who also goes by Sonny, Charlie was admitted to the hospital in Tullahoma, TN for a urinary tract infection and dehydration on Monday. He has been fighting pancreatic cancer.

Charlie is in the fight of his life with medical bills mounting, and that is why Judd Films has put together a creative way to preserve this historic anniversary concert, while helping out Charlie. With help from Keith Neltner, Judd Films has started a Kickstarter account to help with the hard production costs to get a DVD made of the concert, that will later be sold with all the proceeds going back to Charlie.

Last week it was announced that Charlie Louvin who just turned 83, has been diagnosed with stage 2 pancreatic cancer. Charlie has a six hour surgery scheduled at the Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville on July 22nd, two days after his new album Hickory Wind : Live at the Gram Parsons Guitar Pull, Waycross GA is […]

Xmas is nigh upon us people, and for that certain special hellibilly or hellbetty I have a few suggestions if you’re short on ideas. First you can always check out 3bay for the latest in III gear and Reinstate Hank merch. There is also issue #1 of Metal Farm Magazine, JD Wilkes’ & Blake Judd’s […]